spray it with a water hose!!!

I only have three things that could work, or maybe not, I was told that cats don't like citrus peel. So you could put it around the daylilies. I did this with some houseplants, and my cat left the plant alone for awhile but then I came home one day and she had taken all of the peels out and laid them on the floor. 2nd thing would be bird netting on the ground around the daylilies, told cats dont like the feel of it. Tried that too on the houseplants even anchored it down with metal pins and my cat had a great time playing with the bird netting after taking it out. That kept her occupied at any rate so I guess it worked cause she stayed away from the plant.!! Third thing is bone meal or blood meal, supposed to keep animals away including dogs and cats, didn't try that yet with the houseplants, but I always use it on bulbs and what not outside anyway. Haven't had a cat lay on a DL clump.

Good luck with that.
Cindy

Try sprinkling garlic powder around the plant, or put some garlic around it. My neighbor told me about that one. I tried it on my raised beds as cats would sit on them, and it seemed to actually work! Of course, my other neighbors must have had a laugh at me walking around sprinkling garlic outside! lol.

Cindy, are you sure about the bone/blood meal? I've never had any trouble when I used it, but I've heard people say it attracted animals & their plants or bulbs were dug up.

I've read pine cones sprinkled in the garden deter cats because they don't like to step on them. Haven't tried it myself, though. I've tried red pepper flakes, doesn't work for me.

If you're really desperate and don't mind the cost. The motion detecting water Scarecrows they sell in the garden supply stores are quite effective at detering all kinds of animals. My sister has 2 at her house. She swears by them for keeping deer and all other unwelcome animal visitors out of her gardens. As for me.....I'd try using Liquid Fence first and see if that works.

Linda

Lots of good suggestions and thank you all so much for them. This is the same cat I have had trouble with for the past few years and I'm just sick of it.

Cindy, your cat just won't let you get the better of her, will she? Many years ago I put bone meal around some bulbs and the squirrels (or something) dug all of them up. I've never used bone meal since.

Linda, I've never heard of the scarecrows, but that is an intriguing concept. My husband would probably get a kick out of trying that because he's into all that motion-sensor stuff.

Dani, this cat is very cautious and runs away when we go outside, so I don't think I'd have time to get the hose. And we aren't here all the time so it has free reign a lot around here. But I guess that's why someone invented the scarecrow that Linda mentioned. And I have just the place for it, because the cat always walks the same path.

Kent, Since I have garlic powder in the cupboard, I'll start with that and see what happens. Maybe I'll have to disguise the container so the neighbors will think it's fertilizer or something.

Sue, our neighbor has pine trees and last fall they all blew off into our yard. They are the stickiest things! Maybe that's what the cats don't like about them. Unfortunately we bagged them up and threw them away, but I'll have to remember that next time.

Cats don't like walking on the pine needles or scratching in them because they are prickly. Never use seasonings of any kind, especially red pepper, if it gets in the animals eyes they will claw them out trying to get rid of the burn. Even if it did deter the animal I would not want that on my conscience.

Sharon

If your husband is handy, here is a link to a do it yourself "Heronizer" water cannon that is a lot cheaper than the commercial one. The website is a friend of mine's the directions and water cannon do work.

Here is a link that might be useful: DIY water cannon

flower shops have clear plastic "forks" called cardettes that they use to hold the little cards in flower arrangements when they deliver them. they should sell them cheap. They have a pointed end that would go into the dirt and then three pointed prongs that would stick up to deter miss kitty.

Put a couch next to your clumps... the cats will prefer the couch and leave the clumps alone!

uroboros!!!! LOL.

I don't have an answer... that just made me laugh.

ngraham,
Don't really know about the bone meal, I have also heard that it attracts animals. It is an ingredient in many of the products that are sold to keep cats and dogs away, so who knows. I have had some bulbs dug up, but I have always blamed it on the squirrels.

Boy, the couch comment was the best!!!!!

Cindy

Yeah, I'd be careful about what I used. I have two cats and they love my garden. They're also big hunters...and what they bring home isn't always from my yard...

However, I'd certainly understand your not wanting someone else's cat in your garden...I'd just stick to stuff that wouldn't harm the cat.

I've used this company's products for several years (for voles...)...I found one for domestic cats....see the link below. I have no affiliation with this company.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: critter repellent...cats

Stear clear of the garlic. I once had a cat that loved it and he loved food with lots of garlic in it. It wasn't till several years after he was gone that I found out garlic is toxic to cats. It is a blood thinner and some cats can get extremely ill if they ingest it.

Have you tried speaking to it's owner?
Is it being properly cared for? If not perhaps animal control would be the best solution. If it's not being cared for, perhaps it would find a good caring home through them.

We used chicken wire, but almost any "spikes" in or around the clump should at least slow the cat down. They just like the nice comfortable bed where they can lay down.

uroboros - I don't laugh out loud too much when I'm at the computer, but that answer did! Hilarious!

katladie - that makes sense about the pine cones. And too bad about the red pepper. That sounds horrible. I just thought they would smell it and be repelled by it.

buyorsell888 - I'll have to show that to my handy husband. He loves to tinker, but I don't know if this will intrigue him enough to try it.

kimkats - I'm not really sure who the owner is, but it looks healthy enough. Didn't know about cats and garlic.

wally - that's a good idea. I would have a lot of cutting to do and ground to cover as my daylilies are spread out over a large area.

gone gardening - I ended up using something similar to what you suggested. Sprinkled it around the perimeter of my 1/2 acre lot. Hope it works. So far, no more flowers have been smashed.

Really appreciate all the good ideas. And all the warnings about harmful stuff. I really don't want to kill a cat. It's just so aggravating.

Have you tried sprinkleing moth ball crystals or use mothballs?
I tried citris peels and they didn't work
How about a very LARGE DOG!!???
Speaking of which anybody have ideas on how to keep my dogs out of my beds besides fencing??

That's the first I've heard of moth balls, but maybe that would work. Thanks for the suggestion.

On mothballs....

1. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/keeping-cats-out-of-the-garden.html

2. http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/hortiscope/pests/cat.htm

From that site, above:
"A: I used to recommend mothballs until someone pointed out the obvious; they are toxic and a hazard to cats and children who might pick them up by mistake. Try the natural approach instead. You might try planting a cat litter box of catnip (a member of the mint family) to attract him to a particular spot. In the beds you don't want him in, plant herbs such as lavender, rue, geranium, absinthe or lemon thyme. A German gardener has come up with a plant, coleus canin, which he has found keeps cats at bay. It can be ordered from various garden catalog services in Germany or perhaps your local garden center can obtain it for you. He has also come up with a mixture that is easily made and will keep away just about anything on four paws. ItÂs two parts cayenne pepper, three parts dry mustard and five parts flour. Mix together and sprinkle on areas where you donÂt want cats. Cats donÂt care much for tea leaves, so save the tea bags and sprinkle the leaves over the beds you want to keep him out of. You can try laying large, flat river stones around the digging areas of your bed. Cats love freshly prepared soil (and fresh laundry too!), so putting the stones around would keep kitty from doing as much digging.

Finally, you may want to consider installing a sprinkler system that is activated by movement. One or two douses will cure the cat quickly and will also deter prowlers! I know it works because as a little kid I remember we had a cat that liked to use the bathtub. My Mother would dutifully clean up the mess each time and say nothing. Dad found out so the next time the cat was in the tub, the shower kicked on for a few seconds. The cat never used the tub again! Give these ideas a try and let me know which one works or if they all do. Good luck."

BTW, I do NOT agree with the bit above about using cayenne pepper, regardless of its proportions. Too great a chance a cat could get it in its eyes.

3. http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000978.tip.html

There are many others articles online about mothballs. But I think I've made my point. :)))

Well, I guess I won't be using mothballs either. So far, the dog and cat repellent seems to be working. I haven't had any more mashed clumps.

It's been two weeks since my Hot Ember dl got mashed, and it seems to be coming around okay. So I guess the cat didn't do too much damage.